Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-05615

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 10 January 2022
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 24 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether UNESCO biospheres, and specifically the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biospheres, as initiatives of significance, will be highlighted within the new National Planning Framework 4.

The Draft Fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) was laid in Parliament on 10 November 2021. The draft sets out that ‘Local development plans should identify and protect locally, regionally, nationally and internationally valued natural assets, landscapes, species and habitats’. In addition to the parliamentary scrutiny of the draft, a public consultation runs until 31 March 2022 and the Scottish Government welcomes responses and comments being provided to support the production of a finalised NPF4. Further information is available from: www.transformingplanning.scot .

Question reference: S6W-05215

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 January 2022
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 24 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what the approval rate is of wind farm applications in each local authority area, broken down by those (a) determined and (b) not determined by Scottish Ministers, in each of the last five years.

Wind farm applications under 50MW are considered under planning legislation whilst proposals over 50MW are dealt with under the Electricity Act.

Planning legislation cases

Information on the approval rate of wind farm applications in each local authority area, not determined by Scottish Ministers, is not held centrally. The Scottish Government publishes figures on the approval rate of all planning applications determined by Planning Authorities for different types of development in Scotland. Over the past 5 years the approval rate has been consistently over 93.7% (this includes the development type Electricity Generation, which includes wind farm applications). The information is available on the following website: https://www.gov.scot/collections/planning-statistics/

Scottish Ministers have called-in two planning applications from Orkney Islands Council and issued decisions in 2021 granting consent for both applications.

The following table confirms the position in relation to planning appeals. All bar two of these appeals were decided by reporters from the Planning and Environmental Appeals Division of the Scottish Government. The two appeals not decided by reporters were in the Argyll and Bute Council area, one in 2017 and one in 2019, and were both allowed by Scottish Ministers.

	2017			2018			2019			2020				2021
Planning Authority	Cases	Appeal Allowed	Percentage Allowed	Cases	Appeal Allowed	Percentage Allowed	Cases	Appeal Allowed	Percentage Allowed	Cases	Appeal Allowed	Percentage Allowed	Cases		Appeal Allowed	Percentage Allowed
Aberdeenshire										1	1	100%	1		1	100%
Argyll and Bute	1	1	100%	1	1	100%	2	1	50%
Scottish Borders				3	3	100%	2	1	50%	2	0	0%
Dumfries and Galloway	2	0	0%	1	0	0%	3	1	33%	1	0	0%	2		2	100%
East Ayrshire	6	4	67%	5	1	20%	1	1	100%
East Renfrewshire				1	0	0%
Fife	1	1	100%
Highland	4	3	75%	2	0	0%	2	1	50%				1		1	100%
Moray							1	1	100%
North Lanarkshire	1	1	100%
Orkney Islands							2	2	100%
Perth and Kinross				1	1	100%	1	1	100%
South Ayrshire	1	1	100%				1	0	0%	2	1	50%
South Lanarkshire				1	1	100%				1	0	0%
West Lothian				1	0	0%
Total	16	11	69%	16	7	44%	15	9	60%	7	2	29%	4		4	100%

Electricity Act cases

The following table confirms determinations made by Scottish Ministers on applications for wind farms made under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 where a Public Local Inquiry was held following an objection to a wind farm by the relevant planning authority(s) (i.e. the planning authority(s) for the land on which the wind farm would be built). Where the planning authority did not object consent was granted by Scottish Ministers. The percentage consented column therefore only refers to cases where a public inquiry was necessary.

	2017			2018			2019				2020				2021
Planning Authority	Decisions	PLI required	Percentage Consented (post PLI)	Decisions	PLI required	Percentage Consented		Decisions	PLI required	Percentage Consented		Decisions	PLI required	Percentage Consented		Decisions	PLI required	Percentage Consented
Argyll and Bute	2	2	0%					3	2	0%		2	0			1	1	100%
Dumfries and Galloway	1	1	100%					1	0			2	0			3	2	50%
Dumfries and Galloway/ South Ayrshire												1	0			1	0
East Ayrshire				2	1	100%		1	1	100%		1	0			3	0
East Ayrshire/ Dumfries and Galloway	1	1	100%
Highland	4	3	67%	3	3	33%		4	2	50%						3**	2	100%
Moray	1	1	100%									1	1	100%		1	0
North Lanarkshire			100%
Perth and Kinross								1	1	0%
Scottish Borders	1	1	100%	1	1	0%						1*	1	0%		1	0
Scottish Borders/East Lothian								1	0							1	1	100%
Shetland Islands	1	0						1	0
South Ayrshire				1	0							1	0			1	0
South Ayrshire/ Dumfries and Galloway																1	1	100%
South Lanarkshire								3	1	0%		1	0			3	0
South Lanarkshire/West Lothian				1	0
Total	11	9	78%	8	5	40%		15	7	29%		9*	3	67%		19**	7	86%

* Does not account for Fallago Rig variation which was for an extension of operational period to a wind farm which was already built and operating.

** Does not account for Farr Wind Farm variation which was for an extension of operational period to a wind farm which was already built and operating.

Question reference: S6W-05618

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 10 January 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 19 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what financial support is available to (a) bed and breakfast and guest house operators that have been impacted by ongoing COVID-19 restrictions.

Our £9 million funding package to deal with the Omicron crisis has been targeted at those businesses most severely impacted. We recognise that the public health advice to reduce the spread of omicron and the re-introduction of regulations has affected some businesses more than others within tourism and hospitality.

B&Bs and Guesthouses are not as severely affected by restrictions as other businesses, and therefore not in scope for this tranche of funding. We recognise that this is a challenging time for businesses of all kinds and are continuing to press the UK Government for more comprehensive support.

Question reference: S6W-05203

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 17 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the General Teaching Council for Scotland regarding child protection and safeguarding.

The Scottish Government has regular discussions with the General Teaching Council for Scotland on a wide range of topics, including child protection and safeguarding. I also refer the member to the answer given to S6W-05202 on 17 January 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

Question reference: S6W-05202

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 17 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review child protection and safeguarding measures in schools.

On 2 September 2021 the Scottish Government published the National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland. This non-statutory guidance describes the responsibilities and expectations of everyone who works with, or comes into contact with children and young people, families and carers in Scotland. The key role of the education workforce in protecting children is affirmed and strengthened by the inclusion of education staff in all references to multi-agency arrangements.

Following publication, local authority schools, Grant Aided Special Schools and independent schools will review and update their procedures in line with the national guidance.

A National Child Protection Guidance Implementation Group has been established to support implementation over the next 18-24 months. Education Scotland and the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland are both represented on the group, which will also engage with the Scottish Council of Independent Schools to support all schools with implementation of the guidance over the coming months.

Question reference: S6W-05616

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 10 January 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 14 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-04648 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 3 December 2021, whether milk will be provided free of charge to pupils under the new scheme, or whether it will be subsidised by the Scottish Government.

Question reference: S6W-05617

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 10 January 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 14 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-04648 by Shirly-Anne Somerville on 3 December 2021, which age groups of school pupils will be eligible to receive milk under the new scheme.

Question reference: S6W-05214

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 13 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to helping communities which oppose wind farm developments to (a) access and (b) fund legal representation during the planning process.

The Scottish Government provides the policy and legislative framework for community engagement in the Scottish planning system. Whilst not providing an advocacy service for communities, the Scottish Government provides financial assistance to PAS (Planning Aid for Scotland), an independent charity, to provide a free advice service on planning and environmental matters for communities and the public at large, through its professional planner volunteers.

Question reference: S6W-05213

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 13 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reported challenges in sourcing some alarm products, whether it expects all homes to have interlinked fire alarms by February 2022.

We are aware that some manufacturers may be affected by difficulties with imported components. Other manufactures have stock availability and specialist retailers are also able to meet demand, subject to logistical challenges. However, I would emphasise that when the legislation comes into force, it says that work should be done within a reasonable period, which takes into account individual circumstances. No home owner will be penalised if they are unable to do the work by 1 February 2022.

Question reference: S6F-00639

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 10 January 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 January 2022

To ask the First Minister what deadline the Scottish Government has set for making any further changes to this year's SQA examinations process.

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